Watching the Winter Olympics in a Bikini with a Bucket

I never thought I would blog. I arrived in São Paulo last Wednesday after 15 hours of luxurious hours of travel.

Carolina and I just returned from Carnival in Bombinhas, a small city south of São Paulo near Florianópolis. During the 14 hour drive bac kto São Paulo I summarized my week into two lists: wonderful things (W) and other memorable things (O). As we leave for Rio de Janeiro tomorrow, I must sleep and thus restrict myself to highlights only.

W1: I made it 5 days before visiting a Brazilian hospital!
Last visit I only made it 3.5 days so at this rate everyone should be signing up to accompany my next visit when I stand a whole before visiting.
Come on States, even Brazil has affordable medicine. A midnight ER visit to a private clinic and 3 medicines only coast about $150 USD. After vomiting 5 times in 60 minutes I was taken to the doctor. He diagnosed it as part of an epidemic of gastroenteritis. I slept 36 hours. We all (minus 3) ended up with a period of illness. Thankfully, I was the worst and it wasn't on the way home. Unfortunately, this has made me wary of visiting the Amazon. I don't desire Malaria.

W2: I discovered Carnival.
I was tragically under dressed for the event as my feather boas, wigs, and masks were left at home. However, all was forgotten if one's dancing was fast enough. All of Bombas was out from babies to grannies and ALL were dancing. In classic style, guys have speakers in the backs of their cars to participate in the my-music-is-more-fun-than-your-music contest. There was a small parade though nothing on the grotesque scale of Rio or Salvador. We were so drenched in sweat by the end of the avenue that we walked along the beach to dry.

W3: The Brazilian cuisine experience.
There were 10 of us in total renting the house. In the course of 5 days we consumed approximately 3 cows, 2 pigs, 1 chicken, 30 limes 6 packets of Tang, a bag of rice, and half a head of lettuce. The beverage of choice was Skol beer which makes it sound like the week was spent in drunken reverie. However, those familiar with Skol recognize it is closer to colored water than anything a German would drink. I seriously wonder if it's even possible to get drunk on Skol.

W4: Discovery- I can burn!
The first day of beach left my chest and shoulders looking like a bust carved from rose marble. I have never seen a burn of this nature and I took a picture for everyone's benefit.

O1: I bought a bikini.
The world cries as my "preserved" skin reflects sun as though it were the surface of the moon on a crisp winter eve.

O2: I forgot it is winter.
I'm so sorry Canada, I forget what snow feels like and I forget my 3 extra layers when I dress. However, it's amusing as I never realized how much "northerner creatures" we are.

O3:Lazy with Language.
I am trying to learn some Portuguese, especially as I prepare to go off on my own. However, it is easy to be lazy when even doctors in small Brazilian towns apologize at 2am for their poor English. Somewhere in New York Thomas Friedman is singing in his choir of banana boats, golden arches, flamingos, and whatever else he uses to herald globalization. However, I remain utterly humiliated and ashamed my mono-linguisity.

I would love to divulge upcoming plans but it is difficult to divulge plans that are yet unplanned. Tomorrow we set sail... wheel (?)..... for Ipenema and Copacobana beaches. After that I have 5-6 possibilities (though the Amazon is fading). Schrodinger, you have my intineraries but prepare as we experiment tomorrow.